Above the Roar

Contributing To This Entry

Groundbreaking regularfooter from Dana Point, California; often described as the original power surfer for his water-gouging turns, and credited as the first person to ride Hawaii's Pipeline. It was Edwards, along with friend and part-time rival Mickey Dora, who created the technique, image, and language for surfing in America—and the rest of the surf world—from the mid-'50s to the mid-'60s.

Edwards was born (1938) and raised in Long Beach, California, moved with his family to Oceanside in 1...